Lens surfacing machine



Feb 3, 1959 G. G. DEslATo LENS SURFACING MACHINE Filed July 1s, 195s 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Feb- 3, 1959 G. G. DEslATo 2,871,626

LENS SURFACING` MAcmNE Filed July 13, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 24 GENE G- DESIATO ATTORNEY Feb. 3, 1959 G. G. DEslA-ro 2,871,626 v LENS suRFAcING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 13, 195s INVENTOR.

GENE G. DESIATO BY ATTORNEY Feb. 3, 1959 G. GA. DEslATo 2,8715626 LENS SURFACING MACHINE Filed .my 1s, 195e 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR. GENE G. DESIATO BY we;

ATTORNEY United States Patent "2,871,626 LENSYSURFACING MACHINE Gene G, Desierto, vRbcvhevster, N. Y. Application Jury 13, y19`s6, SeriiO. 591,667 11 claims. (Cl; 51e-i124) rlhis 'invention relatesA to lens grinding and polishing machinesincluding machinesfor cylinder lens grinding and polishiig, an'dsph'erical. lens ygrinding and polishing.

The invention is directed to a llens surfacing ymachine of the character described-whereinseparate drives are provided for each of the upper and lowerfspindles of each of the pair of grindingunits, and v,wherein va continuous flow of grinding 'or polishing "compound is supplied to the grinding tools. The invention is further `directed to a tontinuous common grinding orpolishing compound supply and pump and pan arrangement embracing the grinding uni.s, all of which can be quickly removed for thorough cleaning. Additionally the machine is so characterized that all bearings arecompletely protected from abrasives. The invention is furtherdirected to agrinding unit capable `oi either lateral or angular adjustment, each adjustment being independent ofthe other. Further, the yinvention is directed to va machine whichrequiresaminimum of (attendance, and which may be vtime controlled, and `which by reason ofits construction, reduces 'substantially `the time for grinding 'and polishing, as'well as the consumption of abrasives used'durin'g thecou'rse'of a daysroperation.

Th'eabove and other novel -f'features of'the `invention willappeanrnore yfullyhereinafter -from 'thefollowing detailed description when taken'in conjunction with 'the laccompanying drawings. VIt `is'expressly understood that 'the-drawings are employed for purposes "of illustration onlyand are not designed 'as a definition ofthe vlimits of vvthe invention, referencebeing had forthispurpose'to the appended claims.

Inth'e drawings, wherein dike-reference characters 1ndicate-llke fparts:

Figure l is a front elevational view of theigrinding apparatus with parts in section, and parts broken away;

Figure 2 =is a sectionalview'throughone of the mounts 'andithrough thepump, taken 'substantially' on *the broken i Figure 2; and

Figure 7 `is a circuit diagram.

As shown in Figures `l aridi, `'theapparatus comprises 'fa rigid hollow base 20 having a bottom 'plate`22,` a deck plate 2.3 locatedt-hereabov'e, a front wall 24'and end walls 26 joining the bottom plate and deckfplate, and a heavy back'plate 23 extending above the deck, and forminga support for the-upper spindle assemblies 30 andy32. Each of the spindle assemblies are aliker and comprises a hollow spindle bearing bracket -34 overhanging the ','deck l23, 'suchbr'ackethaving vafsixplro'r't plate 36 pivotally 2,871,626 istante# ist: 3f AFtf" ICC .slidably mounted on the back Plate 28 of the base. pivotal mountof the plate 36 upon the' sector plate com* 'prises ashouldered bolt 39 extending through apertures in the plates 36 and 38, and through `a transversel slot Y'40 in'the back plate 28. yThe bolt is threaded into. a

block `42 having a threaded bore 44 through which 'ex- :tends'a manual feed'screw 46, one 'end of which is ljournalled in a central yblo'ckf48, afxed to the back plate, and the other end of which is provided with a knobf'5`1, and extends through anintegral ear 52 on` -th'e'yblack "plate, a collar'50 being provided to prevent end play,

The vsector platewis provided with rectangularwraised portions 54 and `55 adapted to ride in transversecmating grooves 56 and 57 in the back plateZS whereby the sector plate is `held invverticalposition at all times. yA clamp bolt 58 and knob `60, threaded thereon, extendsthrough a transverse slot 62'in the back plate, an aperture 64 lin they sector jplate and an arcuate slot 66 in the plate 36,

ysucharcuate slotkbeing concentric with the axis of the bolt 39.Y The sector plate is provided with worm teeth 68, which mesh with` a worm 70 carried on a-manually operated shaft 72 -journalled in the iianges 74 of the sup' portplate 36. By reasonof the screw 46, and the worm 70, lateral and angular adjustment of the upper spindle axis is readily effected, the one independent of the other, and when the desired setting of both is obtained, the lateral. and angular adjustments are simultaneously locked by 'tightening the Yknob 60.

Each upper spindle bracket 'is provided with spaced bearings 73 and 75 'in which is journalled a hollow shaft 76 having'a step pulley 7S formed thereon; The pulley is driven bythe motorgby the belt drive 82 as shown.

The pulley hollow 'shaftor sleeve 76 is internally splined 'to receive the spindle S4, which spindle is splined fas* at "36 at its upperfend v"and adapted to be ymoved axially within thepulley sleeve. v

- Slidably 'disposed in the' bracket is a pressure v"'sle'eve SSthrough which the spindle 84 extends. The sleeve has exterior rackl teeth 9i) engaging a pinion 92. mounted on a transverse shaft 94 adapted -to be rotated manually by i the ylever 96. The 'sleeve has an enlarged bore portionA 9S providing a shoulder-99 against ywhich a thrust bearing bears, such thrust bearing engaging the end `of a coil pressure spring 102 surrounding the spindle. The lower end of such` springA is seated in an internal shoulder 104 of a thimble sleeve 106 that is secured tothe spindle by a cross pin 10S. The sleeve'106 rotates with the 'bearing sleeve disposed in theenlarged bore of the `'nonrotating pressure vsleeve 88, yand the lower end of such sleeve is provided with a seal bushing 112 provided with a seal 114, the inner face of which engages the exterior ofthe sleeve 106 in a running and sliding seal. The lower end of such sleeve is threaded' to receive the yoke pin head l1,16 in which is adjustably mounted the crank offset 118. It will be seen fth'at'the spindle and rack pressure 'sleeve 88 may be raised V`or lowered as a unit, subject to ythe Aspindle 84 and spindle thimble sleeve 106 having yielding movement against the spring 102 "to apply yielding presy 'sure between the ,work and the `lap tool.l vA clamp vbolt A'with an arm 121 for securing the rack sleeve in any selected position is provided. Such 'bolt is threaded in a wedge flat sided `sleeve 123, and extends through la second. wedge flat sided sleeve 125, against which the b olt shoulder 127 bears.k

' Each spindle is independently driven by its respective motor.v l y c Below each spindleA is a lap or tool support or lower yspindle 122 which forms an extension upon theoutp'ut `shaft 124 of a motor and gear reduction unit 126, A`A beari bushin'glZS provided with a seal 129 forthe spindle mounted on the front plate. close a circuit, and subsequently open the circuit after a 122 is secured to the deck. The upper end of the spindle is threaded as at 131 to receive the tool head 130. Each of the spindles 122 are independently driven by their respective motorsr133 and 135, whichl as shown are mounted within the hollow base.

Centrally of the hollow base, and mounted on the bottom plate is a bearing sleeve 132 in which is journalled j impeller. p A shallow pan 144, adapted to rest on the deck 23 is provided with upwardly flanged ,openings 146 for the bearing bushings 128, and has formed therein, an annular cup or reservoir 14S adapted to cooperate with the impeller 142. The cup is located in an aperture 25 in the` deck 23. The cup has an annular central upwardly extending sleeve 145 extending up into the surrounding impeller skirt 147, and the impeller skirt is outwardly tapered to act as a slinger. The sleeve 145 is provided with an annular groove 149 to block any tendency fory abrasive solution to escape over the upper edge thereof. The impeller has a plurality of radial blades 150 adapted to agitate the solution in the reservoir as well as toimpel the solution centrifugally to cause discharge into the involutechamber 153 affixed to the rear side wall of the cup, whence the uid ows up the outlet tube 164'. The cup is provided with an annular shouldered recess 152 to receive an annular sloping removable drain ring 154,

such ring has a ring seal 156, and forms a top closure for the cup and the impeller blades, and completes the impeller housing. The involute chamber of the pump housnig has an outlet tube 164 which extends upwardly to a Y fitting 166 from which branch tubes 168 and 170 ex- E tend, such tubes having their discharge ends suitably formed to direct the discharge of abrasive solution upon vthe right rear side of each ofthe tools supported on the respective spindles 122. The tubes also loop over the work holder guide arms 200. The pump spindle is 'driven by a belt drive 172 from a motor 184 mounted on the l back side of the back plate 28.

Each of the tool holders 130 are provided with a transl verse rock shaft 188, journalled on anti-friction bearings 192, set in recesses 193 in the block 1941. Pinned, as at 196 to the ends of the shaft, are sleeves 198 bearing arms 200, having lower diverging portions 202, and upper forked portions 204, to receive a work piece holder such as 206 having a lens 207 aixed thereto. The sleeves 19S project into the bearing recesses 193, and are pro l vided'with O ring seals 19S. Pins 208 are provided to a vertical pump shaft 134, on spaced bearings 136 and of the abrasive to the tools prevents danger of overheating during the grinding operation. The upper spindles are directly yielding against the pressure of the springs 102. In practice, tine grinding is accomplished in two minutes, and continual ne grinding uses but 9 tablespoons of emery in a seven hour day. Polishing is effected in 8 to 10 minutes and three tablespoons of serium oxide covers several daysproduction.

In practice, the lmachine will beset in operation for either grinding, or polishing, but whenever it is desired to change :from one to the other, the pan can be quickly removed, by removing the tool holders, drain ring and pump impeller.` Thereafter the pan is quickly ushed clean of the spent abrasive, so that change to another abrasive or fresh abrasive can be readily effected.

While tool holders with guide arms have been shown for cylinder grinding it will of course be appreciated that other tool holders known in the art may be employed. A feature of the machine is its ability to accept work rough ground on other machines, without being restricted to any one type of generator or lens body.

When the grinding or polishing operation is in progress, the slight orbital movement of the work holder 206 resulting from bringing the crank offset 118 down into operative engagement with thework holder crank recess, with such pressure as is desired, normally creates some vibration. However the weight of the drive motor affixed to each of the upper spindle brackets provides a rigidity coupled with inertia soas to provide freedom from vibration so as to result in precision operation. Further the compression spring 102, bearing as it does at its upper end upon the thrust bearing, provides a uniform pressure free of any extraneous axial vibration.

The angular adjustment ofeach head is effected without necessarily changing the lateral adjustment, and vice versa, and both adjustments are clamped simultaneously, at any set position. The spring pressure upon the offset crank is readily set by lowering the pressure sleeve 88 as desired, after which it is locked by the bolt 120.

limit the angular movement of the arms 200, so that the y upper ends of the arms cannot swing so far to one side or the other as to strike the feed tubes 168 and 170, which are so arched or formed as to clear the orbit of movement of the tips of the arms. The tool holders have a standard taper boss 210 with keying cross pin 212 toy n receive the lap tool 214. The tool holder has a deep skirt 216 adapted to overhang the pan flange 146, so as to provide protection against abrasive reaching the spindle 122 or its bearings.

A settable timer 220 having a control knob 221 is The timer is adapted to predetermined time. The timer can be inserted in the power circuit 222 supplying the pump moto-r 184, the upper and lower spindle motors 133 and 80, and 135 and 81, as shown in Figure 7. Each pair of upper and lower spindle motors may be provided with switches 224 and 226 to break the connection to the return'circuit 223.

lt will be seen from the foregoing, that a machine is provided which is rigid in every respect, with the individual motors adding to the weight thereof to minimize the effect of vibration from the offset crank 118 on the e vork holder'. Further the continual stirring andfeeding By setting the timer to two minutes, for grinding or 10 minutes for polishing, assurance is had that when the job is completed, operation of the motors driving the upper and lower spindles will be stopped. The timer may be but a warning bell if desired.-

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lens surfacing machine, a base having a raised deck, a back plate extending upwardly from said base and above said deck, a sector plate Amounted on said back plate above said deck, said plates having cooperating ways aifording lateral relative movement, a spindle support plate pivotally mounted on a substantially horizontal axis upon said sector plate, said sector plate and support plate having a cooperating worm and worm wheel teeth for angularly moving said support plate relative to said sector plate, common locking means for securing said three plates rigidly together in any set position, a tool holding spindle mounted in said base and projecting upwardly through said deck, a work actuating spindle mounted on said spindle support plate above said tool spindle and forward of said back plate, and adapted for axial and angular alignment with said tool spindle and independent motors for driving said spindles, one of said motors being mounted in said base, and the other on said spindle support plate rearward of said back plate.

extending above 'thedeck, Iay pair of laterally' spaced lower -tool carrying spindles projecting upward through the deck on opposite sides of said aperture, independent motor drive means for each of said spindles, upper work actuating spindles supported from said back plate located oversaid lower spindles, each of said work actuating spindles having a bearing support and having means laterally and angularly settable for mounting said support on said plate, independent motor drive means for each of said spindles mounted on each of said plates, a pan surrounding said vtool spindles mounted on said deck, said pan having a centralk drain cup positioned in said deck aperture, a vertical ipump impeller shaftjournalled in said base and projecting upward through said aperture and cup, and having yan impeller located in said cup, means for receiving centrifugal discharge of fluid abrasive draining into said cup, andfor directing said fluid abrasive downwardly toward each` of said tool carrying spindles, and anindependent motor yfor driving said impeller shaft.

3. In a lens grinding machine, a vbase having an upstanding tool spindle, a bearing bracket mounted on said base in overhanging relationship lto said tool spindle, an internally splined driving sleeve mounted in said bracket, a work actuating spindle having its upper end .I

splined and projecting into said sleeve, a pressure sleeve slidably mounted in'said bracket below said driving sleeve,

'and disposed around said spindle, a thrust bearing within the upper end'of 'said sleeve, a coil spring disposed about and bearing downwardly on and rotating with said spindle, and bearing upwardly against said thrust bearing, and manual means for sliding said pressure sleeve in said bracket to lowei s'aid spindle.

4. In a lens grinding machine, a base having an upstanding tool spindle, a bearing bracket mounted on said `base in overhanging relationship to said tool spindle, an internally splined driving sleeve mounted in said bracket, a work actuating spindle having its upper end splined and projecting into said sleeve, a pressure sleeve slidably mounted in said bracket below said driving sleeve, and disposed around said spindle, a thrust bearing within the upper end of said sleeve, a thimble sleeve secured at its lower end to said spindle and projecting upwardly along said spindle in spaced relation thereto, a coil spring disposed about said spindle and seated within said thimble and rotating with said spindle and thimble and bearing upwardly against said thrust bearing, and slidable and rotatable lbearing means between said thimble and pressure sleeve, and means for sliding said pressure sleeve in said bracket to elevate or lower said spindle, and apply yielding axial pressure to said spindle through said spring.

5. In a lens grinding machine, a base having an upstanding tool spindle, an individual motor and drive mounted in said base for driving said tool spindle, a bearing bracket mounted on said base in overhanging relationship to said tool spindle, an internally splined driving sleeve mounted in said bracket, a work actuat# ing spindle having its upper end splined and projecting into said sleeve, a drive motor having substantial inertia mounted rigidly on said bracket, and having means for driving said splined sleeve, a pressure sleeve, slidably mounted in said bracket below said driving sleeve, and disposed around said spindle, a thrust bearing within the upper end of said sleeve, a coil spring disposed about and bearing downwardly on and rotating with said spindle, and bearing upwardly against said thrust bearto `a lpoint'directed` toward and'located above "said tool holding spindle, and a vertical drive shaft extending upwardly from below fandthrough said'cup aperture,` said cup aperture having an upstanding surrounding collar, and said impeller having a depending surrounding skirt.

7. In a lenssur'facing machine, a base Lvhaving. atraised deck with a centralV aperture therein, and a `back plate extending above the deck, lower tool carrying spindles `projecting upward through the deck on opposite sides of said aperture, upper work actuating spindles supported from said back plate located over said lower spindles, each 'of said work actuatingfspindles being laterally and vangularly :settable into or out "of alignment with said lowerfspindles, a '.pan; surrounding `said 4toolfspindles mounted on said deck, said pan having la central drain #cup with acenter aperture positioned in said deck aperyture, -and apertures having upstanding sleeves through which each of said lower tool spindles project, a cap on each of said ltool spindles, having a depending annular skirt surrounding the respective sleeves, a Vertical y:pump impeller shaft journalled in said base and project- *ing upward through said aperture `and cup, and having ing, and manual means for sliding said pressure sleeve an impeller located in said cup, said impeller having a spending' annular` skirt, and said cup center vaperture vhaving an annular "upstandiug collar extending upwardly within said impeller skir t,'a`nd means for receiving centrifugal: discharge off'uid 'abrasivedrainiug-into said cup, and for directing said iluid abrasive downwardly toward each of said tool carrying spindles.

8. In a lens surfacing machine, a base having a raised deck with a central aperture therein, and a back plate extending above the deck, lower tool carrying spindles projecting upward through the deck on opposite sides of said aperture, upper work actuating spindles supported from said back plate forwardly thereof and located over said lower spindles, a laterally movable plate on said back plate for each upper spindle, an angularly movable plate mounted on said laterally movable plate for each upper spindle, each of said tool carrying spindles being laterally and angularly settable and mounted on its respective angularly lmovable plate, a drive motor mounted on each angularly movable plate rearwardly of said back plate, and drive means for each motor and its upper spindle located above said angularly movable plate, a pan surrounding said tool spindles mounted on said deck, said pan having a central drain cup positioned in said deck aperture between adjacent lower spindles, a vertical pump impeller shaft journalled in said base and projecting upward through said aperture an-d cup, and having an impeller located in said cup, means for centrifugally discharging iluid abrasive draining into said cup including a branched conduit for directing said uid abrasive downwardly to-ward each of said tool carrying spin-dles, and independent motor means for driving each of said spindles and said impeller shaft.

9. In a lens surfacing machine, a base having a raised deck with a central aperture therein, 'and a back plate extending above the deck, lower tool carrying spindles projecting upward through the deck on opposite sides of said aperture, a too-l holder on each of said spindles,

said tool holdersI each having a transverse rock shaft ally and angularly settable into and out of alignment with the respective lower spindles and mounted on its respective angularly movable plate, a drive motor mounted on each angularly movable plate rearwardly of said back plate, and drive means for each motor and its upper spindle located above said angularly movable plate, a pan surrounding said tool spindles mounted on said deck, said pan having a central drain cup positioned in said deck aperture between adjacent lower spindles, a vertical pump impeller shaft journalled in said base and projecting upward through said aperture and cup, and having an impeller located in said cup, and branch duct means l0. A lens surfacing machine comprising a back plate,

a sector plate mounted on said back plate, said plates having cooperating ways affording lateral relative/movement, a spindle support plate pivotally mounted upon said sector plate, said sector plate and support plate having a cooperating worm and a worm wheel; for angularly moving said support plate relative to said sector plate, common locking means for securing said three plates rigidly in any set position, a spindle bearing mounted on one side of said support plate, a drive motor m'ounted on the other side of said support plate, and belt drive means extending over the top of said supportplatel-` v l1. 'In a lens surfacing machine, a base having a `raised deck, a back plate extending upwardly from said base and above said deck, a sector plate mounted on said back plate above said deck, said plates having cooperating ways affording lateral relative movement, a spindle support plate pivotally mounted on a substantially horizontal axis upon said sector plate, said sector plate and .support plate having a cooperating worm and worm wheel teeth forangularly moving said support plate relative to said sector plate, common locking means for securing said three plates rigidly together in any set position, a tool holding spindle mounted in said base and projecting upwardly through said deck, a work actuating .spindle mounted on said spindle support plate above said tool spindle and forwardly of said back plate, and adapted for axial andangular alignment with said tool spindle, a drive motor mounted on said spindle support plate .rearwardly thereof, and drive'means between said motor and tool spindle located above said spindle support plate.

References Cited in the le of this patent VUNITED STATES PATENTS 621,181 Thompson Mar. 14, 1899 1,671,027 George May 22, 1928 1,675,862 Paige July 3, 1928 2,219,641 Taylor Oct. 29, 1940 2,268,159 McCabe et al. Dec. 30, 1941 42,286,361 Goddu June 16, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 977,720 France Nov. y15, 1950 

